Are more people preferring 4x2s these days?

good.car-ma · 14th December 2010, 17:08

I have been observing a lot of people buying 4x2 cars these days rather than 4x4s.

Earlier, for an SUV most people wanted to buy 4x4 to have the go-anywhere option but is cost playing that much of a role that people choose a 4x2 these days?

I for one would choose a 4x4 anyday just for the pure options it opens up to me, even though i dont really need it bcos i drive on good roads. What do you all feel? What would be the deciding factor for you to pick up one of these options?

4x2 or 4x4 people? Lets hear it

sidindica · 14th December 2010, 17:15

Most of the people buy SUVs plainly to show off and not to do hardcore off roading. No only price, but the added weight of the 4WD system is also considered.

Lukeskywalker · 14th December 2010, 17:25

For a person buying an SUV and who does not take the vehicle off road or over broken roads regularly, the price difference between the 4x2 and 4x4 is the main consideration, as the person can get all the features and comforts in the 4x2 version of the same vehicle, why plonk in an additional lakh of rupees for just another feature?

hallik9 · 14th December 2010, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidindica

Most of the people buy SUVs plainly to show off and not to do hardcore off roading. No only price, but the added weight of the 4WD system is also considered.

+1 to that.Most of our crowd want to own an SUV not for the actual purpose.Some of the reasons are trivial but at the end of the day,its their money and their choice.

dadu · 14th December 2010, 17:31

Most SUV's (including 4x4's) spend most of their life on tarmac roads, if you are not going to attend Off-roading events or do not stay/ have a need for travelling onto broken or non-existent roads, you probably dont need it and can save some of your cost.

kaushikr · 14th December 2010, 17:34

Many consumers are purchasing an SUV for road presence and probably to drive over broken tarmac and not serious off-roading. For them, the 4X2 should suffice and 4X4 is not necessary.

I would prefer a 4X4, but if my budget is seriously constrained while considering an SUV, I would not mind going in for the 4X2 either.

nik_kapur · 14th December 2010, 17:36

I agree, SUV's arent bought for offroading in India and therefore the 2 wheel drive makes sense. Its also more full efficient isnt it ?? As in if i compare an All Wheel Drive to a 2 wheel drive. I understand that 4WDs have the option to switch of the 4wd but some of them like the Audis are purely AWD's.

DRC · 14th December 2010, 18:00

I may sound funny, but I would prefer a 4x4 SX4 than an SUV.
It will meet most of the requiremets. Can be fast on highways, decent GC to tackle bad roads. Maruti dependability. what more do you need as a commuter in bad roads? With 4x4 you can wrigle out of sticky situation in non existant roads whcih turn into paddy fields during rains.
If you want to shoo away the ricks and scooters its a different question.
Well, at the present price though

.

Holyghost · 14th December 2010, 19:36

I would say it is the price that is holding off people from going for a 4x4. Spending 100K extra for feature which you seldom use may not make sense to most people.

In last 3 years, I had to use 4x4 only during my Leh trip. That too was not necessary, but just to avoid burning of clutch I engaged 4L. Now even I'm wondering why I went for a 4x4; instead I could have used that amount to get the model with ABS and Airbag.

pradipk · 14th December 2010, 20:25

Ideally in India 4X4 is not required at all. It's only for Passion and serious Offroading as a sports. For any other use, we see all transport vehicles even without 4X4 also works fine. Yes, you may need some external help in case of some extreme situations. But in such cases only "Thank you" works fine.

Sutripta · 14th December 2010, 20:26

If I'm going to accept all the compromises of a SUV, I'd definitely want 4x4. (All my Jeeps were/ are 4x4). Else for the price of the 4x2, I'd get a sedan.

But most people go for a 4x2 because
A) cheaper
B) better FE (this is 'average kya hai' India)
C) better resale value (see B)
D) better performance, NVH
D) salesmen push 4x2. 4x4s are normally built to special order. Dealers don't stock those.

Regards
Sutripta

av8er · 14th December 2010, 21:21

Its more of a macho image for people than the real practical usage of an SUV.

An acquaintance bought a top end Scorpio couple of years back and when I asked him why he dint go for the 4*4 his answer was "the engine is soo powerful that 4*4 is not required for this"

Even when I enquired about the 4*4 Safari last year the Sales guy was like "Sir why 4*4" and he gave me a long list of disadvantages. I told him it was a personal choice so please just tell me how much it is.

thedreamcatcher · 14th December 2010, 23:34

As several people have put it here, it is more to do with affordability and practicality. Why pay for 4X4, when u only use it in the City. They just want to move up to an SUV and command a nice road presence.

KiloAlpha · 15th December 2010, 00:01

So, how long before India catches up with the whole cross-over trend? Because a cross-over is nothing but a highly practical SUV-ish 4X2 family transporter in a stylish package

good.car-ma · 15th December 2010, 09:29

Yes, i agree that it makes sense for a 4x2 considering cost and Sutripta's points. But somehow it seems right to say "my (insert SUV name here) is a 4x4"

I wonder what the actual sales figures say though. does anyone have any comparisons between 4x2 and 4x4 sales?

14th December 2010, 17:08	#1
good.car-ma BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chennai Posts: 163 Thanked: 30 Times	Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? I have been observing a lot of people buying 4x2 cars these days rather than 4x4s. Earlier, for an SUV most people wanted to buy 4x4 to have the go-anywhere option but is cost playing that much of a role that people choose a 4x2 these days? I for one would choose a 4x4 anyday just for the pure options it opens up to me, even though i dont really need it bcos i drive on good roads. What do you all feel? What would be the deciding factor for you to pick up one of these options? 4x2 or 4x4 people? Lets hear it
	() Thanks

14th December 2010, 17:15	#2
sidindica Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 4,892 Thanked: 8,106 Times	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? Most of the people buy SUVs plainly to show off and not to do hardcore off roading. No only price, but the added weight of the 4WD system is also considered.
	() Thanks

14th December 2010, 17:25	#3
Lukeskywalker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,397 Thanked: 1,243 Times View My Garage	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? For a person buying an SUV and who does not take the vehicle off road or over broken roads regularly, the price difference between the 4x2 and 4x4 is the main consideration, as the person can get all the features and comforts in the 4x2 version of the same vehicle, why plonk in an additional lakh of rupees for just another feature?
	() Thanks

14th December 2010, 17:31	#5
dadu Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,803 Thanked: 462 Times View My Garage	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? Most SUV's (including 4x4's) spend most of their life on tarmac roads, if you are not going to attend Off-roading events or do not stay/ have a need for travelling onto broken or non-existent roads, you probably dont need it and can save some of your cost.
	() Thanks

14th December 2010, 17:34	#6
kaushikr BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 129 Thanked: 55 Times	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? Many consumers are purchasing an SUV for road presence and probably to drive over broken tarmac and not serious off-roading. For them, the 4X2 should suffice and 4X4 is not necessary. I would prefer a 4X4, but if my budget is seriously constrained while considering an SUV, I would not mind going in for the 4X2 either.
	() Thanks

14th December 2010, 17:36	#7
nik_kapur Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,101 Thanked: 864 Times	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? I agree, SUV's arent bought for offroading in India and therefore the 2 wheel drive makes sense. Its also more full efficient isnt it ?? As in if i compare an All Wheel Drive to a 2 wheel drive. I understand that 4WDs have the option to switch of the 4wd but some of them like the Audis are purely AWD's.
	() Thanks

14th December 2010, 18:00	#8
DRC BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cockpit Posts: 911 Thanked: 64 Times View My Garage	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? I may sound funny, but I would prefer a 4x4 SX4 than an SUV. It will meet most of the requiremets. Can be fast on highways, decent GC to tackle bad roads. Maruti dependability. what more do you need as a commuter in bad roads? With 4x4 you can wrigle out of sticky situation in non existant roads whcih turn into paddy fields during rains. If you want to shoo away the ricks and scooters its a different question. Well, at the present price though. Last edited by DRC : 14th December 2010 at 18:01.
	() Thanks

14th December 2010, 19:36	#9
Holyghost BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 593 Thanked: 1,129 Times	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? I would say it is the price that is holding off people from going for a 4x4. Spending 100K extra for feature which you seldom use may not make sense to most people. In last 3 years, I had to use 4x4 only during my Leh trip. That too was not necessary, but just to avoid burning of clutch I engaged 4L. Now even I'm wondering why I went for a 4x4; instead I could have used that amount to get the model with ABS and Airbag.
	() Thanks

14th December 2010, 20:25	#10
pradipk BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 238 Thanked: 50 Times	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? Ideally in India 4X4 is not required at all. It's only for Passion and serious Offroading as a sports. For any other use, we see all transport vehicles even without 4X4 also works fine. Yes, you may need some external help in case of some extreme situations. But in such cases only "Thank you" works fine.
	() Thanks

14th December 2010, 20:26	#11
Sutripta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Calcutta Posts: 4,668 Thanked: 6,217 Times	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? If I'm going to accept all the compromises of a SUV, I'd definitely want 4x4. (All my Jeeps were/ are 4x4). Else for the price of the 4x2, I'd get a sedan. But most people go for a 4x2 because A) cheaper B) better FE (this is 'average kya hai' India) C) better resale value (see B) D) better performance, NVH D) salesmen push 4x2. 4x4s are normally built to special order. Dealers don't stock those. Regards Sutripta Last edited by Sutripta : 14th December 2010 at 20:28.
	() Thanks

14th December 2010, 21:21	#12
av8er BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Autoville Posts: 146 Thanked: 86 Times	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? Its more of a macho image for people than the real practical usage of an SUV. An acquaintance bought a top end Scorpio couple of years back and when I asked him why he dint go for the 44 his answer was "the engine is soo powerful that 44 is not required for this" Even when I enquired about the 44 Safari last year the Sales guy was like "Sir why 44" and he gave me a long list of disadvantages. I told him it was a personal choice so please just tell me how much it is.
	() Thanks

14th December 2010, 23:34	#13
thedreamcatcher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,204 Thanked: 66 Times View My Garage	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? As several people have put it here, it is more to do with affordability and practicality. Why pay for 4X4, when u only use it in the City. They just want to move up to an SUV and command a nice road presence.
	() Thanks

15th December 2010, 00:01	#14
KiloAlpha Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cubicle Posts: 1,605 Thanked: 3,002 Times	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? So, how long before India catches up with the whole cross-over trend? Because a cross-over is nothing but a highly practical SUV-ish 4X2 family transporter in a stylish package
	() Thanks

15th December 2010, 09:29	#15
good.car-ma BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chennai Posts: 163 Thanked: 30 Times	Re: Are more people preferring 4x2s these days? Yes, i agree that it makes sense for a 4x2 considering cost and Sutripta's points. But somehow it seems right to say "my (insert SUV name here) is a 4x4" I wonder what the actual sales figures say though. does anyone have any comparisons between 4x2 and 4x4 sales?
	() Thanks